a Supreme Council of the United States； with Grand； Central； and Subordinate Councils for each state； county； and community。 All communication within the order took place by passwords and cipher； the organization and the officers were similar to those of the Ku Klux Klan； and all officers were designated by initials。 An ex…member states that 〃during the three years of its existence here ＇Perry County； Alabama＇ I believe its organization and discipline were as perfect as human ingenuity could have made it。〃 The fundamental object of the White Camelia was the 〃maintenance of the supremacy of the white race；〃 and to this end the members were constrained 〃to observe a marked distinction between the races〃 and to restrain the 〃African race to that condition of social and political inferiority for which God has destined it。〃 The members were pledged to vote only for whites； to oppose Negro equality in all things； but to respect the legitimate rights of Negroes。
The smaller orders were similar in purpose and organization to the Ku Klux Klan and the White Camelia。 Most of them joined or were affiliated with the large societies。 Probably a majority of the men of the South were associated at some time during this period with these revolutionary bodies。 As a rule the politicians； though approving； held aloof。 Public opinion generally supported the movement so long as the radicals made serious attempts to carry out the reconstruction policies。
The task before the secret orders was to regulate the conduct of the blacks and their leaders in order that honor； life； and property might be secure。 They planned to accomplish this aim by playing upon the fears； superstitions； and cowardice of the black racein a word； by creating a white terror to counteract the black one。 To this end they made use of strange disguises； mysterious and fearful conversation； midnight rides and drills； and silent parades。 As long as secrecy and mystery were to be effective in dealing with the Negroes； costume was an important matter。 These disguises varied with the locality and often with the individual。 High cardboard hats； covered with white cloth often decorated with stars or pictures of animals； white masks with holes cut for eyes； nose and mouth bound with red braid to give a horrible appearance； and frequently a long tongue of red flannel so fixed that it could be moved with the wearer's tongue； and a long white robethese made up a costume which served at the same time as a disguise and as a means of impressing the impressionable Negro。 Horses were covered with sheets or white cloth held on by the saddle and by belts； and sometimes the animals were even painted。 Skulls of sheep and cattle； and even of human beings were often carried on the saddlebows to add another element of terror。 A framework was sometimes made to fit the shoulders of a Ghoul which caused him to appear twelve feet high。 A skeleton wooden hand at the end of a stick served to greet terrified Negroes at midnight。 For safety every man carried a small whistle and a brace of pistols。
The trembling Negro who ran into a gathering of the Ku Klux on his return from a Loyal League meeting was informed that the white…robed figures he saw were the spirits of the Confederate dead killed at Chickamauga or Shiloh； now unable to rest in their graves because of the conduct of the Negroes。 He was told in a sepulchral voice of the necessity for his remaining more at home and taking a less active part in predatory excursions abroad。 In the middle of the night； a sleeping Negro might wake to find his house surrounded by a ghostly company； or to see several terrifying figures standing by his bedside。 They were； they said； the ghosts of men whom he had formerly known。 They had scratched through from Hell to warn the Negroes of the consequences of their misconduct。 Hell was a dry and thirsty land； and they asked him for water。 Bucket after bucket of water disappeared into a sack of leather； rawhide； or rubber； concealed within the flowing robe。 The story is told of one of these night travelers who called at the cabin of a radical Negro in Attakapas County； Louisiana。 After drinking three buckets of water to the great astonishment of the darky； the traveler thanked him and told him that he had traveled nearly a thousand miles within twenty…four hours； and that that was the best water he had tasted since he was killed at the battle of Shiloh。 The Negro dropped the bucket； overturned chairs and table in making his escape through the window； and was never again seen or heard of by residents of that community。 Another incident is told of a parade in Pulaski； Tennessee： 〃While the procession was passing a corner on which a Negro man was standing； a tall horseman in hideous garb turned aside from the line； dismounted and stretched out his bridle rein toward the Negro； as if he desired him to hold his horse。 Not daring to refuse； the frightened African extended his hand to grasp the rein。 As he did so； the Ku Klux took his own head from his shoulders and offered to place that also in the outstretched hand。 The Negro stood not upon the order of his going； but departed with a yell of terror。 To this day he will tell you： 'He done it； suah； boss。 I seed him do it。'〃
It was seldom necessary at this early stage to use violence； for the black population was in an ecstasy of fear。 A silent host of white…sheeted horsemen parading the country roads at night was sufficient to reduce the blacks to good behavior for weeks or months。 One silent Ghoul posted near a meeting place of the League would be the cause of the immediate dissolution of that club。 Cow bones in a sack were rattled within earshot of the terrified Negroes。 A horrible being； fifteen feet tall； walking through the night toward a place of congregation； was very likely to find that every one had vacated the place before he arrived。 A few figures wrapped in sheets and sitting on tombstones in a graveyard near which Negroes were accustomed to pass would serve to keep the immediate community quiet for weeks and give the locality a reputation for 〃hants〃 which lasted long。
To prevent detection on parade； members of the Klan often stayed out of the parade in their own town and were to be seen freely and conspicuously mingling with the spectators。 A man who believed that he knew every horse in the vicinity and was sure that he would be able to identify the riders by their horses was greatly surprised upon lifting the disguise of the horse nearest him to find the animal upon which he himself had ridden into town a short while before。 The parades were always silent and so arranged as to give the impression of very large numbers。 In the regular drills which were held in town and country； the men showed that they had not forgotten their training in the Confederate army。 There were no commands save in a very low tone or in a mysterious language； and usually only signs or whistle signals were used。
Such pacific methods were successful to a considerable degree until the carpetbaggers and scalawags were placed in office under the Reconstruction Acts。 Then more violent methods were necessary。 The Mans patrolled disturbed communities； visited； warned； and frightened obnoxious individuals； whipped some； and even hanged others。 Until forbidden by law or military order； the newspapers were accustomed to print the mysterious proclamations of the Ku Klux。 The following； which was circulated in Montgomery； Alabama； in April 1868； is a typical specimen：
K。 K。 K。 Clan of Vega。 HDQRS K。K。K。 HOSPITALLERS。
Vega Clan； New Moon； 3rd Month； Anno K。 K。 K。 1。
ORDER No。 K。 K。
ClansmenMeet at the Trysting Spot when Orion Kisses the Zenith。 The doom of treason is Death。 Dies Irae。 The wolf is on his walkthe serpent coils to strike。 Action！ Action！！ Action！！！ By midnight and the Tomb； by Sword and Torch and the Sacred Oath at Forrester's Altar； I bid you come！ The clansmen of Glen Iran and Alpine will greet you at the new…made grave。
Remember the Ides of April。
By command of the Grand D。 I。 H。
Cheg。 V。
The work of the secret orders was successful。 As bodies of vigilantes； the Mans and the Councils regulated the conduct of bad Negroes； punished criminals who were not punished by the state； looked after the activities and teachings of Northern preachers and teachers； dispersed hostile gatherings of Negroes； and ran out of the community the worst of the reconstructionist officials。 They kept the Negroes quiet and freed them to some extent from the influence of evil leaders。 The burning of houses； gins； mills； and stores ceased； property became more secure； people slept safely at night； women and children walked abroad in security； the incendiary agents who had worked among the Negroes left the country； agitators； political； educational； and religious； became more moderate； 〃bad niggers〃 ceased to be bad； labor became less disorganized； the carpetbaggers and scalawags ceased to batten on the Southern communities。 It was not so much a revolution as the defeat of a revolution。 Society was replaced in the old historic grooves from which war and reconstruction had jarred it。
Successful as was the Ku Klux movement in these respects； it had at the same time many harmful results。 Too often local orders fell under the control of reckless or lawless men and the Klan was then used as a cloak to cover violence and thievery； family and personal feuds were carried into the orders and fought out； and anti…Negro feeling in many places found expression in activities designed to drive the blacks from the country。 It was easy for any outlaw to hide himself behind the protection of a secret order。 So numerous did these men become that after 1868 there was a general exodus of the leading reputable members； and in 1869 the formal disbanding of the Klan was proclaimed by General Forrest； the Grand Wizard。 The White Camelia and other orders also gradually went out of existence。 Numerous attempts were made to suppress the secret movement by the military commanders； the state governments； and finally by Congress； but none of these was entirely successful； for in each community the secret opposition lasted as long as it was needed。 The political effects of the orders； however； survived their organized existe